The golden era of Lakota West football doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon. The Firebirds are loaded again with enviable talent in their senior, junior and sophomore classes. This team will be a contender to bring home the schools first ever regional title.
Division I, Region 4
2024 RECORD: 11-2, 9-1 GMC
COACH: Tom Bolden (61-13 at Lakota West, six years; 193-34 overall, 18 years)
HONOR ROLL
Cam Thomas, Sr, LB – A hunt and destroy player, Thomas is one of the best in the state. He tallied 84 tackles, had 4.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, four pass breakups and one interception on his way to OPSMA Division I Third Team All-Ohio honors as a junior. Thomas has 126 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 21.0 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, four pass breakups and three interceptions in his career.
Kofi Adubofuor, Sr, K – A real force on special teams. As a junior, Adubofuor connected on 32/34 extra points and 9/13 field goals (long of 45-yards) for 59 points. He also had 67 touchbacks on 85 kickoffs and was named OPSMA Division I Honorable Mention All-Ohio for his efforts.
Tyson Davis, Sr, WR – The Firebirds top returning receiver who is primed for a monster senior campaign. Davis earned First Team All-GMC honors after catching 23 balls for 331 yards and five touchdowns a year ago.
DJ Edwards, Sr, LB – Teams with Thomas to make one of the most destructive linebacking duos in Southwest Ohio. Edwards was in on 60 tackles, with 3.0 sacks, 12.0 tackles for losses and an interception as a junior. He was named Second Team All-GMC for his efforts.
OTHER RETURNEES
Kenyon Norman, Jr, RB –A rising star who will be in the GMC Offensive Player of the Year talk. The lightning fast Norman ran for 552 yards, had eight receptions for 166 yards and found the end zone nine times (eight rush, one rec) as a sophomore.
Reilly Newman, Jr, DL – An absolute beast and behemoth on the d-line, Newman has all-state talent. He had two sacks in abbreviated playing time as a sophomore.
Jayden Brogden, Sr, WR – Will line up opposite of Davis and will see plenty of opportunities to make plays. Brogden had eight receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns in 2024.
Jackson Smith, Jr, QB – Takes over under center and is poised for a breakout year. In limited playing time over his first two years Smith has thrown for 315 yards, run for 219 yards with one passing and three rushing touchdowns.
NEWCOMERS
Juniors DL Eli Hodge, DL Braylen McQueen along with sophomore DL Jordan Narvaez will join the rotation in the trenches. Like Narvaez, classmate LB Judah Blair is a rising star. Junior TE Xavier Ratica has an incredible ceiling.
Transfer and speedster WR/DB Chris Bradley was a starter for Division I state runner-up Moeller last fall. He recorded 33 tackles, seven pass breakups, three interceptions including a pick-six as a sophomore. He also averaged 37.6 yards on six kickoff returns with one returned to the house.
OFFERS AND COMMITMENTS
Cameron Thomas, Sr, 6-2/217 – committed to Illinois.
Tyson Davis, Sr, 6-0/190 – offer from Southern Mississippi
Chris Bradley, Jr, 5-10/155 – offers from Kent State, Miami (OH) & Toledo.
Reilly Newman, Jr, 6-6/265 – offers from Iowa, Maryland, Miami (OH), Michigan, Stanford & Toledo.
Kenyon Norman, Jr, 6-1/195 – offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Miami (OH), Penn State, Purdue, Southern Mississippi and Toledo
Xavier Ratica, Jr, 6-6/235 – offers from Maryland, Southern Mississippi, Toledo and Tulsa.
Jackson Smith, Jr, 6-2/205 – offers from Kent State, Kentucky, Marshall, Maryland, Miami (OH) and Toledo.
Jordan Narvaez, So, 6-6/265 – offer from Kentucky.
PLAYOFF HISTORY
(11 appearances, 16-11) – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2014, 2013, 2009, 2006, 2004
2025 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/22/25 – at St. Xavier (10-4 in 2024) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/29/25 – MASON (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/05/25 – at Hamilton (9-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/12/25 – PRINCETON (10-3) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/19/25 – at Fairfield (2-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/26/25 – MIDDLETOWN (5-6) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/03/25 – at Colerain (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/10/25 – SYCAMORE (1-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/17/25 – OAK HILLS (0-10) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/24/25 – at Lakota East (8-4) – 7:00 PM
